The British and United States enquiries into the Titanic disaster interviewed lookouts Archie Jewel, George Symons, Reginald Lee and Frederick Fleet. Fleet and Lee were on duty when Titanic struck the iceberg. Their evidence can be found at www.titanicinquiry.org

Reginald Lee's testimony was given on day 4 of the British enquiry, and Frederick Fleet's on day15. Frederick Fleet also gave evidence on days 4 and 5 of the United States enquiry.

Frederick Fleet's account on the CD Rom is taken from testimony given at the American enquiry.

Overview
At 10pm on April14 1912, Frederick Fleet and Reginald Lee began their watch. They were told 'to keep a sharp look out for ice and growlers' (small icebergs). Just after seven bells (about 11.30pm), the ship passed through a patch of mist. On the other side, Fleet saw the dark shape of an iceberg. He rang the bell in the crow's nest three times, and telephoned the bridge with the message 'Iceberg dead ahead'. Although the Titanic's engines were put into reverse, it was too late to alter course, and the ship's starboard bow grazed the iceberg, pieces of ice falling on the deck. The lookouts thought it had been a near miss, the fate of the Titanic was sealed.

Although Fleet survived the Titanic, he seems to have left the White Star service a few months later as, according to his biography in www.encyclopediatitanica.com, surviving Titanic seamen were not welcome on board White Star ships.

In later life, Fleet sold newspapers in the streets of Southampton. He finally committed suicide in 1965.

Activities for the Classroom

• Compare Frederick Fleet's and Reginald Lee's accounts of the night of April 14 1912 given to the British Enquiry
• How do Frederick Fleet's accounts to the British and US enquiries differ?
• Why did Frederick Fleet find it difficult to say how big the iceberg appeared or how far away it seemed?
• The lookouts on the Titanic had no binoculars. Why not? (See the Key by Robert Edmonds) - http://www.maritimequest.com/liners/titanic_the_key_by_robert_edmonds.htm
• Frederick Fleet thought binoculars would have helped him spot the iceberg sooner. Do you think he was right?
• What clues might the lookouts have noticed to warn them that an iceberg might be nearby?
• In 1912, experienced and alert lookouts played an important part in ensuring the safety of ships crossing the Atlantic. Find out the duties of a lookout and write a job description
• In 1912, ships depended on the sharp eyes of the lookouts to warn of dangers ahead. What extra safety features do ships have today?
• The iceberg that sank the Titanic was called a 'blackberg'. Find out what this is
• Discuss why Titanic crew like Frederick Fleet might not be welcome on White Star ships
• Tell the lookouts' story of the iceberg drawing on evidence to both enquiries. (See Richard Krebes' online article cited below)

References
New York Times April 21 1912
Account of warnings from crows' nest to the bridge of the Titanic
http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/alarm-from-lookout-ignored-sailor-says.html
Defending Fleet and Lee: Richard Krebes